“Lemme whisper something to yer, pal. I have heard a little something that aroused my suspicions. I reckon the kid is some lost heir, or something of that sort, and the gentleman what wants him is the individual who will profit by it if hunchy disappears from the face of the earth. That being the case, it is dead certain we might have squeezed the old guy for twice the money he paid us.” At this both the men growled, and one of them struck the table with his clinched fist. “Dern these false whiskers!” grated Sam, as he gave a jerk at them. “I am going to take mine off.” “Don’t do it here, pal,” cautioned Bill. “Somebody may see yer. What will they think if ye do? You came in here wearing whiskers, and you can’t go out clean-shaved without attracting attention.” “All right,” said Sam; “I’ll keep the things on till we mosey out of here, but I’m going to get rid of them at the first opportunity.” “I’ve been thinking of something, pal,” nodded Bill. “I’ve been thinking we got out altogether too easy. We should have hit the bloke up for another fifty. I opine we might have frightened him into coughing up.” “Did you ring, gents?” inquired one of the bartenders, thrusting his head into the room. “Naw, we didn’t ring,” said Sam. “We didn’t,” agreed Bill; “but you may bring us two more whiskies.” “Got ter talk kinder low and quiet-like here,” said Sam. “They are nosey around this place. Notice how that chap looked at us?” “Mebbe he didn’t like the cut of our whiskers.” The bartender soon returned with the drinks, which were promptly paid for, and he departed. “Sam,” said Bill, having dashed off his drink at a single gulp, “have you the nerve to stand by me?” “Nerve? What do you want? What do you mean?” “I mean that I am just about ready to go back there, and light on that gent all spraddled out, and squeeze him hard. If you back me up we’ll go, and I’ll bet we will make him cough up fifty plunks to each of us.” Sam’s eyes gleamed a little. “Do you think it can be done, Bill?” “We can make our bluff. I’ll threaten him if I have to.” “That might be dangerous.” “Go on! He has only one other chap and that old woman there in the house with him. What if we go back and tell him we will peach if he doesn’t crack down the extra coin? What if I tell him I know something about the kid?” “The game might work, Bill.” “Well, if it doesn’t work, it is worth playing. Are you with me?” “Sure thing! Let’s have another drink and I’ll be ready.” Again they ordered drinks, which they disposed of. “Wait here a minute for me, pal,” said Sam. “I will be right back.” He then left the room, and Bill sat puffing a cigar, while he revolved in his mind the scheme of getting more money from the man who had employed them to kidnap the hunchback. At length Bill grew impatient because of Sam’s delay in returning. “What’s the matter with him?” he growled. “He acts as if we had time to burn. If we’re going back there, the sooner we go the better it will be.”